There's no vaccination for these measles!

The symptoms are unmistakable...a small dot appears in a place you didn't expect...upon discovery, your cheeks turn red and your heart rate rises...then comes the moaning, groaning and other sounds of anguish. Next thing you know, you begin to notice looks of pity on the once friendly faces around you.

There's no denying it...you've got a measle.

Fortunately, a measle in this case is not nearly as dangerous as a case of the actual measles, but some collectors may find them equally as frightening.  In the button collecting world, a measle is the dreaded death penalty of competition. As I mentioned in an earlier post, you can compete in button collecting, and from what I've seen so far, the competition is fierce! But if you get one measly measle, you might as well be an Olympian on steroids because either way, your hopes and dreams of competitive glory are over!

I have found the competitive side of button collecting to be incredibly intriguing. Each show features a unique set of awards and categories in which you can compete. Fair warning...if you're looking for a generic competition like "Best Button," this is not for you. Based on the National Button Society classification system, the categories are SPECIFIC, and they require you to really know your stuff. To compete, you first decide in which category (or categories) you're going to enter. After carefully reading and interpreting the award, you put together your tray of buttons (usually around 25, but that may vary).

Here are a couple of examples from this year's competition:

Owl - Realistic

25 Any size. Birds assorted specialized to peacocks, owls, wading birds, roosters, and ducks/geese. Must have five of each listed bird type. Unlimited realistics.  -  So, to compete for this award, you must put together 25 buttons of varying sizes that feature these particular types of birds, and you must take care to include 5 of each type. If you use a button featuring a blue bird...measle! If you have only 3 roosters...you're disqualified. Fortunately, you are not limited in your use of realistics (buttons that actually look like (and are shaped like) a bird).

Cl. 20-1 through 20-24. 25 Any size. Other pictorials specialized to six men, six women, six couples, and seven buttons from the remainder of the class depicting what men and women might do on a vacation/date. - For this one, you have to consult the NBS Classification system to make sure you use only buttons in Section 20 (Other Pictorials), Class 20-1 through 20-24. Six buttons should feature men, six women, and six couples. The other seven can come from the wide variety of remaining classes such as architectural structures, cartoon/comics, pastimes/games/sports and many more. All buttons have to relate to something that men and women would do on vacation or on a date.

The card shown here includes buttons representing: going to the beach, golf, going on safari, the circus, bicycling, playing tennis, going to the ballet, going to the north woods, going to a reenactment, going to the opera, attending a wedding, going to a concert, attending a pow-wow, hiking, hot air ballooning,  listening to music, dancing, sailing, camping, visiting Paris, going to Disneyland, gazing at the sky, visiting NYC, and climbing a mountain. VERY CREATIVE!!

Once you enter your tray, the judges take over. Judging is a very serious business. At this particular show, judging lasted about a day and a half. Judges, along with their clerks, pore over the entries, determine who put together the best tray, and in some cases, give out the dreaded measle which immediately disqualifies the tray from competition. A measle is given when the judge deems a particular button to be inappropriate for that particular category (see green dot in the photo on the left).

In this case, the judge did not feel that this button was appropriate for this particular category. Although this entrant felt she had a good argument for why this button does work for this category, the judge's decision is final.




I'm very proud to say that my mom won a third place ribbon in the category of black glass, imitation fabric buttons. Here is a photo of her tray as well as the other winners in this category.

With more than 180 awards at this show, there was no shortage of competitive spirit. I was in awe of the attention to detail and creativity that went into preparing the trays as well as the painstaking work of the judges. It may be a while before I have enough of a collection to allow me to compete, but when the time comes, everyone better watch out! 

Panoramic view the competition trays

Going Once...Going Twice...SOLD!

When I heard that there was going to be a live auction at the National Button Society dinner last night, I certainly never imagined that my mom and I would walk away with the treasure that we did. In most cases when I attend an event with a live auction, I rarely even participate because, let's face it...someone is going to outbid me within the first few seconds anyway.

Nevertheless, as soon as we finished enjoying a delicious BBQ dinner, mom and I, brimming with optimism, headed straight to the auction table to get a preview of the 100+ items that would be making their way home with some lucky bidder. As I surveyed the goods, I found a few things that interested me, so I took a couple notes on what I thought I would be willing to pay for something on the off chance that everyone else in the room fell asleep and couldn't outbid me! There was a beautiful magenta lacy glass button, an interesting 18th century copper button, a card of 19th century metal pictorial buttons, and a beautiful one-of-a-kind paperweight button made by an amazingly talented glass artist named Mary Gaumond. Mom warned me that all of these items would likely go for "high dollar," but I still clung to a small shred of hope.

Then, as I neared the end of the auction table, I saw it...an unassuming, plain wooden shadow box. I could see that it contained a tray of 25 buttons with "Painted Pearls" handwritten across the top, and from a distance, it looked mildly interesting. But when I got closer, I immediately knew that I had to have it! Each pearl button was hand painted with a variety of figures or scenes from poetry, nursery rhymes, literature, art, and history. From Rip van Winkle and Little Bo-Peep to Napoleon and Longfellow to Paul Revere and William Tell, each button was its own intricate masterpiece, and together, the entire set resonated with me on so many levels.

Mom agreed that it was truly stunning, and we made a pact to bid on it (within reason), but as the evening wore on and we saw the prices that many of the buttons and trays were selling for, we quickly lost hope that we would be able to keep up with the bidding on such a beautiful collection of buttons. Finally, item #97 was up for bid. With our limit in mind, we threw our paddle in the air. Back and forth, with each increasing bid, I reminded myself not to get my hopes up, and then all of a sudden, ours was the only paddle in the air...and I heard the anxiety inducing words, "Going once..." - I glanced around the room silently willing everyone else to keep their hands down - "Going twice..." - please, please, PLEASE...don't let anyone else bid..."SOLD to bidder #102!" I about jumped out of my seat! Mom and I were both shocked. How had that happened? Quite a few single buttons had sold for much more earlier in the night. Who knows...maybe some of the more seasoned dealers and collectors didn't think these buttons were all that valuable. After all, the tray was donated by someone who had inherited them, but very little was known about who painted them or where they came from. To me, however, that just adds to their allure. In the end, mom and I aren't too concerned about their actual value because that's not why we bought them. For whatever reason...and possibly for different reasons, we were drawn to these small works of art. We love them, and we were fortunate enough to be able to buy them. It's an investment that we made together, and after we rework the buttons into two complementary displays, we will each have something beautiful to hang in our homes that will serve as a reminder of this amazing trip.  But for me, it will also be a reminder of the incredible bond that I have with my mom that continues to grow stronger with each new shared experience. Every time I look at the "Hey Diddle Diddle, the Cat and the Fiddle" button, I will hear her voice reciting those lines to me as a child, but I will also be reminded of how blessed I am to have such an incredible mentor, advocate, and friend whom I also happen to call, "Mom."

I have to hand it to button collecting...I think it's teaching me a lot more about my mom, me, and life than I ever expected it to!

Confession #3 - The world of button collecting can be completely overwhelming!

I have been looking at buttons. learning about buttons, or talking about buttons for the past 13 hours straight, and I can honestly say that I'm still loving every minute! I am completely overwhelmed by it all, and I know I will not be able to find the words that will adequately convey how intriguing this world of button collecting is, but I guess I've got to start somewhere!

The showroom opened this morning, and that is where we spent a good part of our day. Picture an enormous convention center ballroom with row after row of tables showcasing literally millions of buttons! There are dealers from all over the US and even some from France, England, and Italy! The showroom is open for the next three days, and I'm not sure I'll be able to browse all of the dealers' selections.

Before the shopping began, mom and I first stopped to check out the special exhibits and competition trays. That's right...you can compete in button collecting...and there are some strong competitors out there. More to come on that in a future post.

One of my goals for the day was to try and narrow down my options for what kind of buttons I want to collect. This may sound simple, but I assure you it is not! Here's a little background straight from the National Button Society's website...

What's a collectible button? Just about any button that appeals to you is worth collecting. From inexpensive Victorian black glass buttons to whimsical modern plastic buttons to rare and beautiful 18th-century buttons worn by the aristocracy of the day, there are buttons for every taste and budget.

The National Button Society's classification system seems almost endless. You can collect buttons based on their material (e.g., black glass, colored glass, shell, celluloid, ceramic, fabric, pewter, steel), their age (e.g. Victorian, pre/post 1918, modern), their subject matter (e.g., animals, objects, plants, people, stories & fables, pastimes), and the list goes on and on. One collector may collect buttons made of a variety of materials that all depict modes of transportation. Another one may specialize in buttons featuring lovers or couples. One of my mom's specialties is black glass imitation fabric...those are buttons that are made of black glass but look like they are fabric. A friend of hers collects mostly 18th century fabric buttons. The possibilities are endless, and it's a bit overwhelming for a "newbie" like me.

18th Century Fabric Buttons

Black Glass Imitation Fabric

My mom's advice was to look around and get an idea of what buttons I was drawn to, so that was my primary objective today. One of the first things I realized as I scoured countless cards of buttons is that I like the expensive stuff! The first button that really caught my eye was a metal button depicting a cow jumping over the moon, and it was selling for just over $1,100! Definitely out of my price range...time to keep looking! I was also fascinated by a material known as lacy glass, but again, those typically aren't cheap. For reference, I saw buttons today that ranged from $0.50 to $1,500+, so there is clearly a wide spectrum.

Isadora Dancing

As a former ballerina, I know I want to be on the lookout for dance related buttons. I have one that my mom bought me a while ago (pictured in my first post), and I added another one to my collection today. It is from a company called Battersea, and the name of the button is "Isadora Dancing." I assume that it is inspired by the great Isadora Duncan, but I could be mistaken. Given my work in college athletics, I'm also looking for sport-related buttons, but I didn't find any today that I just had to have, but we'll see what tomorrow holds!

I would like to settle on one or two different materials that I like as well. Apart from the expensive buttons I liked, I was also drawn to a variety of metal buttons (e.g., pewter, steel, etc.) and some pearl buttons. My mom also advised me to just focus on what I like, so hopefully after another day in the showroom tomorrow, I'll have a better understanding of what I'm looking for.

There is so much more to say about today...from the programs I attended in which I learned about Victorian mourning symbols as well as the masterpieces of the Motiwala Brothers from Bombay, India to the live auction we just returned from (where mom and I walked away with the best treasure of the night), but it's late...and there's a lot more to do tomorrow, so those stories will have to wait. But rest assured you will hear more about our auction purchase tomorrow. I haven't been that excited about a purchase in a very long time!

Confession #2 - Although I will try to educate you a little about buttons, there are much better places to learn.

After a smooth and uneventful first leg of the journey to Springfield, I find myself killing some time in the bustling Atlanta airport. Hopefully, I don't have much time to update, so I thought I would take a quick minute to provide some links for those of you who can't wait to learn more and have time to explore.

My "go-to" source for a lot of info about buttons is called Button Country. My mom introduced me to this site when I decided to give a short speech about button collecting for a public speaking class. From history to fun facts to photo galleries and more...I can't even begin to describe how much there is to learn on this site.

Also, check out the website of the National Button Society. This is the organization to which my mom belongs and serves on the board of directors. Who knows...maybe by the end of this adventure, I'll even be a member too! They also do a good job of providing social media updates via their Facebook page, so you can follow a lot of the convention fun there!

Looks like we may be boarding soon, so hopefully my next post will be from Springfield!

Confession #1 - My name is Stephanie, and my mom collects buttons.

When I tell people that my mom is a button collector, the ensuing conversation tends to go a little something like this...

Them: She collects WHAT?!? Like those campaign buttons that say, "I Like Ike," or the "flair" that Jennifer Anniston's character is encouraged to wear in order to express herself in Office Space?

Me: Nope...not those buttons.

Them: Like buttons you would find on a shirt?!?

Me: Yes! Well...you may have found them on a shirt or other item of clothing a long time ago.

At this point, the reactions begin to vary. I'll hear the occasional, "Uh...that's cool, I guess." or "Hmm...that's weird." Other people may stare back at me with a look of utter confusion, but sometimes I can tell that I've sparked their curiosity, and they want to know more. That last reaction is my favorite, but it was a combination of all of these that inspired me to start this blog. I've never blogged before, and I certainly never would have imagined that my first (and only) blog would be about buttons! But the truth is...my mom is awesome, and although it took me quite a few years to come to terms with it, her hobby is pretty awesome too...so I'm making it my mission to educate my friends and family members (and maybe even a few random strangers along the way) about why I'm so proud to be a button collector's daughter!

Admittedly, I should have started this blog weeks ago to give you a basic knowledge about button collecting and better prepare you to follow along on the adventure I will embark on later today, but there's no time for regrets now. In a few short hours, I will be boarding a plane to Springfield, MO where I will meet up with my mom at the National Button Society's National Button Show. My mom attends this national event just about every year, but this will be my first time, and I couldn't be more excited!

Over the next few days, I will be looking at thousands of buttons, talking to collectors and dealers, viewing trays that collectors have entered into various competitions, and even attending a couple lectures. Regardless of whether you think this sounds intriguing, exciting, or miserably boring, I encourage you to follow along. Worst case... you may learn a little something about a topic you probably didn't expect to know anything about. Or maybe you'll discover something that interests you, and next thing you know, you'll be climbing up in your attic to dig out that old jar of buttons you're grandmother left you...there's no telling what treasure you may find in there!

Stay tuned for more updates coming soon! In the meantime, here is a sneak peek at my own personal (very small) button collection. These are buttons that my mom bought me over the years that have personal meaning to me. I will explain more in my next post.